NORFOLK, Va. — As health officials with the Centers for Disease Control warn of a potential coronavirus outbreak in the U.S., states across the country are preparing.
On Friday, Governor Ralph Northam emphasized the importance of taking the virus seriously.
“We’re doing everything that we can and multiple agencies are involved to be prepared for whatever happens. I don’t want to cause alarm, but I would just say pay attention to your travel plans and we will give every bit of guidance we can to keep Virginians safe,” Northam said.
The governor said people flying into Dulles International Airport in northern Virginia are being screened.
Hospitals across Hampton Roads are preparing for any potential patients with coronavirus. The latest report from the Virginia Department of Health shows there are zero confirmed cases in Virginia. VDH is investigating two potential cases in the state and six other test results have come back negative.
During an interview at the White House Thursday, President Donald Trump addressed the issue.
“It's going to disappear one day, it's like a miracle. It will disappear from our shores,” Trump said. “It could get worse before it gets better. It could maybe go away, we'll see what happens.”
Northam said he disagrees with the Trump administration's handling of the issue.
“Leadership is important, and when the president says that this is a virus that will disappear and that a miracle will take place... we can do better than that, and that's why we're stepping up in Virginia,” said Northam. “We have money in our budget as we prepare for the resilience a lot of different agencies are involved.”
Already, the trade industry in Hampton Roads has felt the impact as the virus spreads overseas.
“We have already noticed a decrease number of containers coming from overseas, coming from China,” said Northam. “Our economy is doing very well right now, but it's something we're looking at closely.”
Gov. Northam said people should not panic, but they should prepare by paying close attention to their travel plans.
“It’s like hurricane preparation, the best thing we can do is be prepared and communicate with Virginians and that's what we're doing in this case.”